Visitacion Valley Middle School

Real Options for City Kids (R.O.C.K.) After School Program at Visitacion Valley Middle School

As the elementary programs established themselves and became more successful, R.O.C.K. expanded to serve middle school children and grow with the kids it was already serving.

As participants enter middle school, the programs introduce challenging outdoor activities and meaningful community service work, in addition to the learning enrichment and sports programs that were introduced in the elementary school programs. These programs continue the process of forming trusting relationships with adults, as well as introduce the importance of giving back to their community.

For several years, R.O.C.K. had served Visitacion Valley Middle School by providing its after-school programming on a pro bono basis. As with El Dorado Elementary, the school’s after-school program was struggling to keep up with the needs of the community. In the fall of 2009, the City of San Francisco, San Francisco Unified School District, and the community of Visitacion Valley approached R.O.C.K. to take over the existing after-school program. This program provides positive services for youth and families in the community.

The following year, R.O.C.K. was asked to be the after-school ExCel provider at the school, and the program has run successfully since.